For three years, I've been going to a weekly yoga class. I recommend yoga to everyone. My teacher focuses on toning and relaxation, so the class isn't strenuous. It's been wonderful for my overall health, and has made me more flexible than I've ever been.
My favorite part of class is the last ten or fifteen minutes, when we have a guided relaxation of the whole body. (I always do feet-up-the-wall pose, which is a great stretch and has a lot of benefits.) Sometime over the last few months, I decided that during relaxation time, I was missing a perfect prayer opportunity. I should be thanking God for my healthy body. It was a good idea, but then I started to feel guilty if I didn't do it. Then I decided it would be even better to pray for friends' needs during that time. Eventually, I realized what I was doing, and I had to laugh at the fact that I could turn an OFFICIAL relaxation time into an item on my spiritual to-do list. I felt like God was laughing too, in a friendly way. Because sometimes it really is okay JUST TO RELAX.
That's my lesson for the day.
Geez, what is the deal with first borns and the guilt spiral?! :)
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